**Livi Sheldon: From Aspiring Footballer to Gladiators’ Diamond and Soccer Aid Star**
The annual Soccer Aid charity fixture returns to Old Trafford, inviting a star-studded line-up from across the entertainment and sporting world to raise much-needed funds for UNICEF. This year’s event sees a keenly anticipated clash between celebrities and ex-footballing legends, as well as the participation of one particularly notable figure—Livi Sheldon, known to millions as ‘Diamond’ from the BBC’s rebooted Gladiators.
Sheldon, aged 31, is no stranger to the demands of elite sport or showbiz. But long before she was dazzling audiences in the Gladiators arena, her childhood dreams were firmly rooted on the football pitch. For Sheldon, appearing at Soccer Aid marks a return to a passion that shaped her early years and continues to influence her today.
England, looking to defend their title after last year’s breakthrough win, have assembled formidable backing with famed faces such as Tom Grennan, Louis Tomlinson, and Dame Denise Lewis, not to mention football legends Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney, and Gary Neville. But the global World XI have responded in kind, calling upon the talents of celebrated footballers like Rivaldo, Carlos Tevez, Edwin van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic, and Leonardo Bonucci. Alongside these figures stand sporting and celebrity contributors including Tony Bellew, Bryan Habana, and actor Martin Compston.
Among the World XI’s ranks, Sheldon’s presence is particularly compelling. She first made her own Soccer Aid debut just last year and has since become a recurring fixture, motivated by a sense of unfinished business and a desire to help the World XI reclaim their trophy. Her competitive spirit, honed over a lifetime around sport, ensures she is every bit a threat on the pitch.
Sheldon’s journey in football began at just six years old, initially breaking through gender boundaries by playing with boys’ teams before captaining girls’ sides and ultimately joining Worcester City Ladies. Her leadership qualities saw her entrusted with the captain’s armband throughout her tenure, as she played primarily in midfield. However, after leaving the game at university age, Sheldon’s path veered away from football and into the demanding world of bodybuilding and personal training.
In a recent interview, she shared, “I played from six right through college, but stepped away around 18 or 19. I had a brief comeback at 23 for a couple of years and then didn’t play again until Soccer Aid came calling.” To prepare for her Soccer Aid return, Sheldon resumed training at Worcester City, crediting the local club for their support and opportunities for young players in today’s game, much improved from when she first began.
Sheldon reflected on the progress in women’s football, observing that if the advanced development pathways present today had existed years before, she might have turned professional. “The setup at Worcester City now is phenomenal. There are development squads nurturing girls and boys from six upwards. If I’d had those chances, who knows where football might have taken me.”
After departing football, Sheldon poured her energy into personal fitness, taking up weight training at 18. Standing tall at six feet, she quickly made her mark in bodybuilding, reaching the finals of several competitions, including the prestigious ‘England Toned Figure’. That discipline transitioned naturally into her work as a personal trainer, a field in which she has thrived.
Now, Sheldon resides in Worcester with her fiancé Grant Gibbs. The couple now work together and share a passion for health and fitness, running online coaching businesses. While Gibbs brands himself as a “body transformation and mindset coach”, Sheldon is the founder of the LivFitness training app, helping others to chase their personal sporting goals.
Livi Sheldon’s story is one of perseverance, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace new challenges—whether that’s under the bright lights of Gladiators, on the hallowed turf of Old Trafford, or supporting newcomers into the world of sport and fitness. Her continued involvement in Soccer Aid is not just a testament to her sporting pedigree, but an inspiration to aspiring athletes across the country.